Arrangement for hinging a sidepiece to the lens bow of a spectacles frame

ABSTRACT

A hinge pin connecting together a hinge member fixed to the lens retaining portion and a hinge member resiliently connected to a temple is constrained so to move that the temple outer corner pressing against the lens retaining portion substantially serves as the virtual pivoting axis for the temple.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented AssigneePriority Roger Piola Geneva;

Andre Guenin, Petit Lancy, Geneva; Conrad Zellweger, Chene-Bougeries,Geneva, Switzerland Jan. 3, 1969 Mar. 30, 1970 La Nationale S. A.

Geneva, Switzerland Jan. 4, 1968 Switzerland ARRANGEMENT FOR HINGING ASIDEPIECE TO THE LENS BOW OF A SPECTACLES FRAME 12 Claims, 7 DrawingFigs.

US. Cl

[51] Int. Cl G02c 5/6 [50] FieldofSearch 351/113, 267/71 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,034,402 5/1962 Alberetti 351/1 13 PrimaryExaminer-David Schonberg Assistant Examiner-Robert L. ShermanAtt0meys-Albert C. Johnston, Robert E. lsner, Lewis H.

Eslinger and Alvin Sinderbrand ABSTRACT: A hinge pin connecting togethera hinge member fixed to the lens retaining portion and a hinge memberresiliently connected to a temple is constrained so to move that thetemple outer comer pressing against the lens retaining portionsubstantially serves as the virtual pivoting axis for the temple.

PATENTEU M30197! SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS NDRE Guemm CONRAD ZELLUJEGERATTORNEY PATENTEU M30 1971 I sum 2 BF 2 I NVE NTOR S 'R GeR -PmLA eNDREGu sum 9 ZELLWEGER ATTORNEY Among the hinging arrangements forspectacles frames are those incorporating a first hinge member rigidlyfixed to the lens retaining portion and a second hinge member pivotallyconnected to the first and resiliently connected to the temple by aguide arrangement.

In constructions of this kind, a temple can be opened without theappearance of any resilient force until the forward end of the templebegins to press against the lens retaining portion. From this positionon, any further opening of the temple must be made against the resilientforce of the hinging arrangement. During this further movement of thetemple, the point at which the temple pivots about the hinge memberrigidly fixed to the lens retaining portion moves with respect to thetemple and follows a direction substantially parallel to the latter.Since the pivoting point does not coincide with the outer side of thetemple, the result is that, as the temple pivots, the point of contactbetween the temple and the lens retaining portion moves with respect tothe latter. Thus, when a temple is opened to the maximum, its forwardouter corner no longer is aligned and in contact with the neighboringedge of the lens retaining portion, thereby giving rise to the falseimpression that the hinge was carelessly mounted.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a hinging arrangement thatavoids this shortcoming.

An object of the invention is an arrangement for so hinging a temple tothe corresponding lens retaining portion of a spectacles frame that thetemple outer comer pressing against the lens retaining portion when thetemple is opened substantially serves as the virtual pivot axis for thetemple.

The invention will be described, with reference to the FIGS. of thedrawings, wherein:

FlG. l is a top view, in cross section, of the hinging arrangement ofthe invention, the temple opened to the maximum position at which noresilient force is felt;

FIG. 2 is'a top view, in cross section, showing the hinging arrangementillustrated in FIG. l at maximum opening;

FIG. 3 is a top view, in cross section, showing the movement of thefixed hinge member when the temple is moved from the position of FIG. 1to that of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are top views, in cross section, respectively showingsecond and third embodiments of the invention; and

H08. a and 7 show a fourth embodiment in the two opened positionsrespectively corresponding to those of FIGS. I and 2.

In the embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. I to 3, a spectacleframe, of which only part of the lens retaining portion l and the temple8 are illustrated, has a hinge member 2 rigidly fixed to the lensretaining portion 1 by a pin 3 embedded into the lens retaining portion.The hinge member 2 carries a pin 4 that pivotally mounts a second hingemember 5 having an armlilte extension 6 and a slot 7.

The second hinge member 5 is resiliently connected to the frame temple hby a guide arrangement comprising a hollow part 9 in which the extension6 is free to slide. The end 10 of the extension slides in that part ofthe hollow part 9 which has parallel sidewalls.

The guide arrangement also comprises a transverse rod 11 carried by thepart 9, the rod serving to hold a compression spring l2, the other endof which presses against a transverse foot forming the end 10 of theextension 6.

The hollow part 9 can be fixed to the temple 8 in any suitable way. Oneparticularly suitable way is to solder or weld it to the metalreinforcement 13 of the temple 8.

The spring 12 keeps the extension 6 inside of the hollow part 9 in aposition defined by the stop made by one end of the slot 7 and thetransverse rod 11. When the wearer opens the temple 8 to the positionshown in FIG. 2, the extension 6 moves with respect to the hollow part 9towards the open end of the latter and against the force of the spring12. During this movement, the outer comer T4 of the front face of theend of the temple 8 pivots while remaining practically aligned with theedge T5 of the lens retaining portion 1.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the position of the pin 4 with respect to thetemple 8 for two positions respectively corresponding to FIGS. l and 2,the temple 8 appearing as though it were stationary and the lensretaining portion ll occupying two different positions. In the positioncorresponding to that of FIG. I, the lens retaining portion l, the hingemember 2, and the pin 4 are shown in dot-dash line. In the positioncorresponding to that of FIG. 2, the pin 4 is now given the referencenumber 4', and the lens retaining portion l is drawn in solid line. TheFIG. 3 shows that the hinge pin 4 moves with respect to the temple 8,parallel to itself, and substantially tangent to a circular cylinder 16having its axis coincident with the comer 14 of the outer edge of theside 8. This comer thus practically constitutes a virtual pivoting axisbetween the temple 8 and the lens retaining portion 1.

In the first form of the invention, the hinge pin 4, as it moves,remains substantially tangent to the surface of the cylinder 16, but itdoes not exactly follow this surface; instead, it moves along a line thecurve of which is opposite to that of the cylinder. 7

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment, in which the second hinge member 5incorporates a slotted extension 17 mounted free to slide in a groove 18of a part 19 fixed to the temple 8. This groove is closed by a sidecover 20 held by two screws 21 and 22. A compression spring 23 pressesat one end against a sleeve surrounding the screw 22, and at its otherend against a foot that forms the end of the extension 17, so that theextension is pushed towards the upper end (as seen in FIG. 4) of thegroove 18. In this embodiment, the pin 4 moves along a linesubstantially tangent to a circular cylinder having an axis coincidentwith the corner 14.

The third embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, operates in substantially thesame way as the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. With respect to this latterform, the lens retaining means I and the hinge member 2 are unchanged.The second hinge member 5, which turns on pin 4, embodies an extension 6composed of two parallel, vertically spaced arms connected together by atransverse end piece 31. These two arms are positioned on respectiveupper and lower sides of a crosspiece 32 positioned between the innerface of a side cover 33 and the metallic reinforcement 13 of the temple8. A screw 34 fixes the side cover 33 to the reinforcement 13.

The second hinge member 5 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 5 by acompression spring 35, one end of which presses against the end piece 31and the other end against the head 36 of a guide pin 37, which latter atits other end serves as a stop for the end piece 31, to limit the extentto which the temple 8 can be opened.

When the temple 8 is opened wider than is customary, the second hingemember 5 moves against the force of the spring 35, the path that thismovement follows with respect to the temple 8 being determined by thetransverse end piece 311, which slides between the parallel respectivefaces of the reinforcement 13 and the cover 33, and by the end 38 of theextension 6, which is next to the pin 4. The end 38 moves between theend of the cover 33 and a projection 39 of the crosspiece 32. Here, asin the previous embodiments, the movement of the pin 4 is parallel toitself and, with respect to the temple 8, is substantially tangent to acylinder of which the axis coincides with the corner 14 of the side 3.

If all movement between the corner 14 and the frame edge I5 is to beeliminated, the movement of the pin 4 with respect to the temple 8 mustfollow a circular are centered at the corner 14.

This requirement is virtually fulfilled by the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7. In this form, the guide arrangement for the second hingemember 5 includes two links 24 and 25 pivotally mounted on respectiveaxles 26 and 27, which are rigidly held by a small housing 23 fixed tothe reinforcement 13 by two rivets 29. A respective further axle (notreferenced) pivotally connects each link to the second hinge member 5.

These two links constitute a distorting articulated parallelograrn whichensures, for the short path of movement that the hinge member 5 is freeto move with respect to the temple El,

that the movement of the pin 4 very closely approximates a circular arecentered at the corner 14.

The resilient restoring force is produced by a spring 30 connected atone end to the fixed axle 27 and at its other end to the second hingemember 5 by means of the axle that pivotally mounts the cam 24 on themember 5.

The specialist in the art will understand that the pin 4, in theembodiment of FEGS. 1 to 3, can also be made to move along a circlecentered at the corner 14, by suitably shaping the slot 7, so that itsedges act as a cam to determine the path along which the extension 6moves with respect to the temple 8.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described,the scope of, and the breadth of protection afforded to, the inventionare limited solely by the appended claims.

We claim:

ll. An arrangement for hinging a temple to the lens retaining portion ofa spectacle frame including, a first hinge member rigidly connected tosaid lens retaining portion, a second hinge member, and a hinge pinconnecting said first and second hinge members for relative pivotalmovement only, between the fully closed and fully opened positionsthereof, connecting means for operatively connecting said second hingemember to said temple comprising an elongated hollow member rigidlymounted on said temple, an extension formed on said second hinge memberand extending into said hollow member, means for guiding said extensionfor movement relative to said temple along a path substantially parallelto said temple including an elongated slot formed in said extensionintermediate its ends and guide means rigidly mounted in said hollowmember and extending through said slot for operative engagement with atleast one end of said slot, and resilient means in said hollow memberoperatively engaged with said extension for urging said one end of theslot into engagement with said guide means, whereby said temple isadapted to be pivoted about said hinge pin with respect to said lenssupporting portion from the fully closed position thereof to anintermediate position wherein the outer corner of said temple engagessaid lens retaining portion, and from said intermediate position to saidfully opened position wherein said hinge pin moves parallel to itselfand with respect to said temple along a path such that said temple outercorner defines the pivot axis of said temple and remains engaged withsaid lens retaining portion.

2. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide meansincludes a crossmember rigid with respect to said temple and positionedbetween said hinge pin and a free end of said extension remote from saidhinge pin, said arrangement further including, a guide pin havingopposed ends extending partway between said crossmember and saidextension free end when said temple is opened to said intermediateposition, said guide pin having a head at one end in permanent contactwith said crossmember and the other end of said guide pin acting as astop together with said extension free end, said resilient means beingcompressed between the head end of said guide pin and said extensionfree end to urge said one end of said slot into engagement with saidcrossmember.

3. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said whereinsaid cross member includes a projection extending towards said hinge pinadaptedto engage said second hinge member near said hinge pin to assistin guiding the movement of said hinge pin.

4. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide meanscomprises a rod mounted in said hollow member extending transversely tothe lengthwise direction of said temple and positioned between saidhinge pin and a free end of said extension remote from said hinge pin,said resilient means being compressed between said rod and saidextension free end, to urge said one end of said slot into engagementwith said guide means, said slot being adapted to slide with respect tosaid rod between said intermediate and said fully open positions of saidtemple to determine the path along which said hinge pin moves.

5. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said guide slotcauses said hinge pin to move along a path substantially tangent to acircular cylinder with acenter coincident with the outer comer of thetemplev 6. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein saidguide slot causes said hinge pin to move along a path that at least veryclosely approximates a circular are centered at the outer comer of thetemple.

7. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said hollowmember includes a generally triangularly shaped platform rigidly mountedadjacent said temple and defining a guide path along an acute anglewithsaid temple in the lengthwise direction thereof for guiding said hingepin along a path substantially tangent to a circular cylinder centeredat the outer corner of said temple during movement of said templebetween said intermediate position and said fully opened position.

8. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said resilientmeans is positioned in compression, between said free end of saidextension remote from said hinge pin and said guide means, to urge saidone end of said slot into engagement with said guide means.

d. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 1, including a distortingarticulated parallelogram cooperating with said second hinge memberextension to cause said hinge pin to move at least approximately along acircular are centered at the outer comer of the temple.

10. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein said distortingarticulated parallelogram includes first and second links spaced alongsaid second hinge member exten sion, and pivot means for pivotallyconnecting a respective link to said second hinge member extension andto said hollow member.

11. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 10, wherein said resilientmeans is connected between one of said pivot means connecting one ofsaid links to said hollow member and another of said pivot meansconnecting the other of said links to said second hinge memberextension.

12. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said guide slotcooperates with said rod to detennine the maximum extent to which thesidepiece can be opened.

1. An arrangement for hinging a temple to the lens retaining portion ofa spectacle frame including, a first hinge member rigidly connected tosaid lens retaining portion, a second hinge member, and a hinge pinconnecting said first and second hinge members for relative pivotalmovement only, between the fully closed and fully opened positionsthereof, connecting means for operatively connecting said second hingemember to said temple comprising an elongated hollow member rigidlymounted on said temple, an extension formed on said second hinge memberand extending into said hollow member, means for guiding said extensionfor movement relative to said temple along a path substantially parallelto said temple including an elongated slot formed in said extensionintermediate its ends and guide means rigidly mounted in said hollowmember and extending through said slot for operative engagement with atleast one end of said slot, and resilient means in said hollow memberoperatively engaged with said extension for urging said one end of theslot into engagement with said guide means, whereby said temple isadapted to be pivoted about said hinge pin with respect to said lenssupporting portion from the fully closed position thereof to anintermediate position wherein the outer corner of said temple engagessaid lens retaining portion, and from said intermediate position to saidfully opened position wherein said hinge pin moves parallel to itselfand with respect to said temple along a path such that said temple outercorner defines the pivot axis of said temple and remains engaged withsaid lens retaining portion.
 2. The hinge arrangement as defined inclaim 1, wherein said guide means includes a crossmember rigid withrespect to said temple and positioned between said hinge pin and a frEeend of said extension remote from said hinge pin, said arrangementfurther including, a guide pin having opposed ends extending partwaybetween said crossmember and said extension free end when said temple isopened to said intermediate position, said guide pin having a head atone end in permanent contact with said crossmember and the other end ofsaid guide pin acting as a stop together with said extension free end,said resilient means being compressed between the head end of said guidepin and said extension free end to urge said one end of said slot intoengagement with said crossmember.
 3. The hinge arrangement as defined inclaim 2, wherein said wherein said cross member includes a projectionextending towards said hinge pin adapted to engage said second hingemember near said hinge pin to assist in guiding the movement of saidhinge pin.
 4. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein saidguide means comprises a rod mounted in said hollow member extendingtransversely to the lengthwise direction of said temple and positionedbetween said hinge pin and a free end of said extension remote from saidhinge pin, said resilient means being compressed between said rod andsaid extension free end, to urge said one end of said slot intoengagement with said guide means, said slot being adapted to slide withrespect to said rod between said intermediate and said fully openpositions of said temple to determine the path along which said hingepin moves.
 5. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein saidguide slot causes said hinge pin to move along a path substantiallytangent to a circular cylinder with a center coincident with the outercorner of the temple.
 6. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 4,wherein said guide slot causes said hinge pin to move along a path thatat least very closely approximates a circular arc centered at the outercorner of the temple.
 7. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 1,wherein said hollow member includes a generally triangularly shapedplatform rigidly mounted adjacent said temple and defining a guide pathalong an acute angle with said temple in the lengthwise directionthereof for guiding said hinge pin along a path substantially tangent toa circular cylinder centered at the outer corner of said temple duringmovement of said temple between said intermediate position and saidfully opened position.
 8. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 7,wherein said resilient means is positioned in compression, between saidfree end of said extension remote from said hinge pin and said guidemeans, to urge said one end of said slot into engagement with said guidemeans.
 9. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 1, including adistorting articulated parallelogram cooperating with said second hingemember extension to cause said hinge pin to move at least approximatelyalong a circular arc centered at the outer corner of the temple.
 10. Thehinge arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein said distortingarticulated parallelogram includes first and second links spaced alongsaid second hinge member extension, and pivot means for pivotallyconnecting a respective link to said second hinge member extension andto said hollow member.
 11. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 10,wherein said resilient means is connected between one of said pivotmeans connecting one of said links to said hollow member and another ofsaid pivot means connecting the other of said links to said second hingemember extension.
 12. The hinge arrangement as defined in claim 4,wherein said guide slot cooperates with said rod to determine themaximum extent to which the sidepiece can be opened.